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The Prairie Research Institute (PRI) and its five constituent surveys—the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, and Illinois State Water Survey—serve the state of Illinois and beyond by providing rigorous, objective scientific research, data, and expertise to help understand, manage, and protect our essential natural resources. With around 600 full-time staff, PRI is one of the largest research institutes at the University of Illinois.

PRI is based in Urbana-Champaign, a diverse, affordable, micro-urban community. Learn more about Urbana-Champaign. 

U of I HR provides more information about applying to and working at the University of Illinois, including available benefits.

If you have questions about any PRI open positions or the application process, contact a member of our human resources team:

blog posts

  • Senior Scientific Specialist, Archaeology - Illinois State Archaeological Survey

    Mar 30, 2023 3:45 pm

    The Illinois State Archaeological Survey is seeking to hire a Senior Scientific Specialist, Archaeology (up to 2 depending on applicant pool and programmatic need) to conduct and lead field archaeological investigations, analysis, and reporting for Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Forest Preserve of Cook County (FPCC) archaeological projects. Position is based at the ISAS Northern Illinois Field Station located in Elgin, Illinois. 

  • Archaeological Extra Help - Illinois State Archaeological Survey

    Mar 29, 2023 10:45 am

    The Illinois State Archaeological Survey is seeking to hire an Archaeological Extra Help to assist in managing project and site-level databases, spreadsheets, and related materials for archaeological projects, compliance report archives, and publications. Position is based in Champaign, Illinois.  

  • Aquatic Field/Fisheries Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey - Havana, Illinois

    Mar 29, 2023 9:30 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) is seeking multiple (up to 2) Field Technicians to conduct management and applied research in aquatic ecosystems throughout the state of Illinois. Technicians will assist the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and INHS staff with surveys of ponds, lakes, streams, and large rivers to aid in management and ongoing research projects.   Technicians will also do additional targeted surveys or outreach events as directed by IDNR and/or INHS staff. This position will be 40 hours per week and will be located in Havana, Illinois. 

  • Visiting Scientific Specialist, Environmental Assessments Researcher - Illinois State Geological Survey

    Mar 27, 2023 3:45 pm

    The Illinois State Geological Survey is seeking to hire a Visiting Scientific Specialist, Environmental Assessments Researcher (up to 5 depending on applicant pool and programmatic need) to perform sponsored research on environmental assessments.  The assessments will involve evaluating potential environmental and geologic hazards and risks for Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) infrastructure improvement projects. IDOT's infrastructure projects range in size and can involve anything from a single property to hundreds of properties across many miles of existing or future highways.  IDOT uses the assessments completed by ISGS to protect workers and public safety, to reduce IDOT's liability, and to minimize delays by operating in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Position is based in Savoy, Illinois. 

  • Senior Scientific Specialist or Assistant Research Scientist, Wetland Plant Ecology - Illinois Natural History Survey/PRI

    Mar 27, 2023 3:30 pm

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking a Wetland Plant Ecologist at either the Senior Scientific Specialist or Assistant Research Scientist Level. The Wetland Plant Ecologist will administer research activities of the Survey by developing, planning, directing, and conducting basic and applied research with an emphasis on the coordination and participation in wetland determinations, assessments, and monitoring. This position will be based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Stream and River Research Technicians (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey/PRI

    Mar 27, 2023 9:45 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking up to 7 research technicians to conduct bioassessments of aquatic life in streams and rivers in Illinois. The position will be stationed in Champaign Illinois, but travel will occur throughout the state.

  • Visiting Senior Scientific Specialist, Technical - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

    Mar 27, 2023 8:30 am

    The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center seeking to hire a Visiting Senior Scientific Specialist, Technical (up to 3, depending on applicant pool and programmatic need) to collaborate with businesses, manufacturing, and industrial entities as well as municipal agencies, colleges, and universities throughout Illinois to improve sustainability, provide technical assistance in identifying opportunities and implementing sustainable solutions associated with materials, processes, water and wastewater, energy utilization, waste minimization and recycling.  

  • Visiting Assistant Research Scientist, Engineering - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

    Mar 27, 2023 8:15 am

    The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center is seeking to hire a Visiting Assistant Research Scientist, Engineering (up to 4, depending on applicant pool and programmatic need) to perform original research and technology development for ongoing projects pertinent to CO2 capture & utilization, waste management, coal combustion byproducts utilization, and other relevant clean energy and resource utilization. Conceive, recommend, and initiate new research in these areas. Position is based in Champaign, Illinois. 

  • Visiting Senior Scientific Specialist, Geophysics - Illinois State Geological Survey

    Mar 24, 2023 2:30 pm

    The Illinois State Geological Survey is seeking to hire a Visiting Senior Scientific Specialist, Geophysics to conduct and manage field investigations and deliverables associated with geophysical research.  Position is based in Champaign, Illinois. 

  • Undergraduate Hourly Research Technician - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Mar 22, 2023 9:15 am

    INHS is seeking Undergraduate Students to work on research projects related to the ecology, behavior, and management of corn and soybean insect pests (principally western corn rootworm beetles/larvae) in corn, soybean, or other crops. Position is located at the Forbes Natural History Building in Champaign, IL. 

  • Equipment Specialist I or Equipment Specialist II

    Mar 20, 2023 10:00 am

    PRI is seeking to hire an Equipment Specialist I or II to provide assistance to Research Shop Employees, recommend maintenance for, and conduct maintenance and repair of equipment and resources in support of PRI staff and research activities. This is a Civil Service position based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Visiting Scientific Specialist, Stream Ecology - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Mar 15, 2023 1:45 pm

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking a Stream Ecologist to develop and implement research and service projects focused on monitoring and assessing the ecological responses of stream communities to a variety of best management practices under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in Illinois. This position will be based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Aquatic Field Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey - Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby, Illinois

    Mar 13, 2023 9:45 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking 3 Field technicians to conduct applied research in aquatic ecology and large river systems throughout the state of Illinois. Technicians will assist large river ecologists in the collection of standardized long-term river monitoring data with additional targeted data collection. This position will be 40 hours per week and will be located in Oglesby, Illinois at Starved Rock State Park.

  • Aquatic Field/Fisheries Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey - Havana, Illinois

    Mar 13, 2023 9:15 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking up to 8 technicians to conduct applied research in aquatic ecology and large river systems throughout the state of Illinois. Technicians will assist large river ecologists in the collection of standardized long-term river monitoring data with additional targeted data collection. This position will be 40 hours per week and will be located in Havana, Illinois.

  • Visiting Scientific Specialist, Wetlands Geology - Illinois State Geological Survey

    Mar 7, 2023 10:30 am

    The Illinois State Geological Survey is seeking to hire a Visiting Scientific Specialist, Wetlands Geology (up to 2 depending on applicant pool and programmatic need) to participate in specialized assessment and monitoring of the hydrogeology and geochemistry of wetlands, streams, bioswales, and other related environments. This position is for a specialist dedicated to field data collection and analysis to support Illinois state agencies under their environmental programs, including the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Tollway, and Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. This position will support the analysis and reporting for compliance with various federal (e.g., Clean Water Act) and state regulatory programs.  Position is based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Graduate Research Assistantships (Ph.D) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Mar 6, 2023 11:15 am

    A Ph.D. Graduate Student Assistantship is available at the University of Illinois to conduct research evaluating shovelnose sturgeon metapopulation dynamics (population estimates, movement, survival, and growth) at strategic locations in the Rock River near Erie/Moline, Illinois and connected waterways to help guide shovelnose sturgeon sportfish management in Illinois.

  • Graduate Research Assistantship in Aquatic Ecology (Ph.D.) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Mar 6, 2023 10:15 am

    The Illinois Natural History Survey (a division of the Prairie Research Institute of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) is seeking a Graduate Research Assistant (Ph.D.). In collaboration with researchers from Purdue University and the Shedd Aquarium, we are developing hydroacoustic array in the area with an intent to answer several questions important to fisheries management. Successful candidate will develop a project within the larger framework of research related to the movement of post-tournament released smallmouth bass in the Illinois nearshore waters of Lake Michigan and connected Chicago land waterways.

  • Student Hourly GIS - Illinois State Water Survey, PRI

    Feb 28, 2023 11:45 am

    We are seeking several University of Illinois graduate students to assist with preparing digitally available GIS data and analyzing streamflow statistics regionalization at the Illinois State Water Survey. The primary duty will be to assist our staff to compile a geodatabase with geology, hydrogeology, land use/land cover, soil, and climate information.

  • Archaeological Collections (Scientific Specialist, Senior Scientific Specialist, or Assistant Research Scientist) - Illinois State Archaeological Survey

    Feb 22, 2023 3:00 pm

    As part of its long-term mission and responsibility for management of University of Illinois collections, the Illlinois State Archaeological Survey is seeking to hire up to two individuals at either the Scientific Specialist, Archaeological Collections level, the Senior Scientific Specialist, Archaeological Collections level, or the Assistant Research Scientist, Archaeological Collections level depending on qualifications, who will conduct laboratory documentation of archaeological materials held in University of Illinois collections. Collections specialists will be expected to ensure all activities are completed in compliance with applicable institutional policies as well as state and federal laws as directed by the ISAS Curator and in collaboration with the University of Illinois’ Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) office. Responsibilities also include compilation of existing records and publications related to the collection inventory process, assisting with tribal and other stakeholder consultations, and working with local, state, and federal agencies as needed.   This position is based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Public Health Entomology Technician (Hourly) - Illinois Natural History Survey

    Feb 21, 2023 9:45 am

    We are seeking hourly technicians for seasonal field and lab work on mosquito and tick surveillance and research. Applicants should be available for either two consecutive days per week or full-time for the entire or part of this period. The position is based at the Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Lab, within the University Research Park in Champaign, Illinois.